Once a year the quiet town of Porretta Terme, found just over the border from Tuscany in Emilia Romagna, transforms into the Italian centre for soul music. Icons of the soul world will perform at the Porretta Soul Festival from July 23 to 26, celebrating the rich genre.
Soul music originated in the United States in the early 1960s, emerging from a mix of jazz, blues and gospel music. Rooted in the African American racial struggles, the music became known for powerful lyrics exploring themes of identity, faith and hardships. Southern cities, like Memphis, Tennessee, were at the centre of the development of the new genre, and home to renowned soul artists such as Otis Redding and Wilson Pickett.
Decades later, the legacy of Memphis’s soul music found an unexpected second home in Porretta Terme, where an appreciation for the genre led to a lasting cultural exchange. The bond between these two cities is down to Graziano Uliani, the founder and director of the festival. After hearing American soul music on the radio in the 1960s, Uliani was instantly captivated by the sounds and emotion of the genre. In 1987 he founded ‘Sweet Soul Music’, an association dedicated to promoting soul music in Italy. In the same year he travelled to the USA, where he met major figures in the soul scene such as The Memphis Horns and the family of Otis Redding, who all inspired him to create the soul festival.
The Porretta Soul Festival, established by Uliani in 1987, was founded with the clear mission to bring the sounds of soul from the Deep South to Italy. Its special relationship with Memphis, which was formally recognised in February 2025 when the two cities became official sister cities, has strengthened a connection built through a shared passion, history and love of soul music.
This year, legends such as Lenny Williams, John Ellison, Curtis Salgado and dynamic guitarist Eric Gales will perform throughout the four-day festival, maintaining Porretta’s tradition of bringing world renowned soul artists to the town each Summer.
Visitors are also encouraged to explore the festival’s soul museum, located inside Porretta Terme’s former jail. The museum includes memorabilia from past editions of the festival, original stage clothing worn by soul legends Rufus Thomas and Bobby Rush, and various awards collected over the years. A second room in the museum traces the wider story of Memphis music, from the Civil Rights era through to the rise of blues, soul, country and rock ‘n’ roll.
Across the town, murals dedicated to soul legends and iconic performers serve as landmarks that reflect Porretta’s iconic but enduring connection to Memphis.
At its core, the festival is a celebration of soul music and its cultural roots. Whilst soul music is mainly popular with an older generation, all ages are urged to come and explore the genre.
Tickets are available on the festival website https://www.vivaticket.com/it/tour/porretta-soul-festival/149 , with free entry for under 13s and a 50% discount for those aged 14-18 years. Day passes are reasonably priced at 40€, and the four-day pass at €120. (Aniela Cabut)
